WHERE THE FISH ARE “SINGING”!
Aroanios river (or Katsana stream) with an estimated length of 29 km, originates from Chelmos mount, crosses the Katsana valley and is connected with the river Ladon (it is Ladon’s tributary). The Traveler Pausanias mentions in his “Arcadics”, that he visited Aroanios river around 173-174 AD. to find out if the myth was true, that the fish “chirped” in the river. Pausanias after a visit found of course that the fish (trout) of the river did not chirp, but the myth arose from the inhabitants because these fish were very tasty.
Geodiversity
A karst spring is a water source that is part of a karstic hydrological system. The system formed by the dissolution of carbonate rocks, such as limestone, is called karst and is characterized by sinkholes, caves and underground drainage systems. When rainwater, which is enriched in carbon dioxide (CO2), flows into cracks in carbonate rocks (limestones), they dissolve and the cracks widen, due to the reaction of CO2 with the carbonates in the limestone. In such a karst network, water from the Aroanian mountains, is lost through the sinkholes of Loussoi polje, and springs at an altitude of 700 m through 41 small openings in Planitero, i.e. from the karst springs of Aroanios with significant water supply. The karst network has been created in Upper Cretaceous limestones (100-66 million years) of the Gavrovou – Tripoli area, along a fault that begins at Loussoi polje and ends up at Planitero where the springs are discharged.
Biodiversity
This geosite is located within two areas of the Natura 2000 network, in “MOUNT HELMOS (AROANIA) – VOURAIKOU GORGE AND KALAVRYTON AREA” (GR2320013) and “MOUNT HELMOS AND THE WATERS OF THE STYGOS (GR2320002). Protected species that have been recorded around the area are the Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) and the Eurasian eagle-owl (Bubo bubo). Characteristic of the area is an extensive forest of plane trees. The otter (Lutra lutra) has been recorded at riverside locations of Aroanios, while in the waters of the river there are two endemic species of fish, the trout Salmo magrostigma and the sea bream Barbus peloponnesius.
